Engaging with end users in the development of assistive technologies remains one of the major challenges for researchers and developers in the field of accessibility and HCI. Developing usable software systems for people with complex disabilities is problematic, software developers are wary of using user-centred design, one of the main methods by which usability can be improved, due to concerns about how best to work with adults with complex disabilities, in particular Severe Speech and Physical Impairments (SSPI) and how to involve them in research. This paper reports on how the adoption of an adapted agile approach involving the incorporation of a user advocate on the research team helped in meeting this challenge in one software project and offers suggestions for how this could be used by other development teams.

Technological supports have the potential to greatly improve the quality of life and independence of adults with severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI). In particular, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices can enable people with little or no speech to communicate with others. However, the rate of rejection of AAC devices is estimated to be as high as 53.3%. It is suggested that a major reason for this rejection is a lack of user-centred design in the development of these devices. As part of a wider study looking at involving adults with SSPI in all stages of user-centred design, this paper looks at the use of focus groups in requirements gathering with this user group.

A visit to hospital is traumatic for both a patient with disabilities and their family members, especially when the patient has no or limited functional speech [1]. For adults with Severe Speech and Physical Impairments (SSPI) being hospitalized presents particular challenges as hospital staff are often unaware of how the adult with SSPI communicates and what their basic care needs are.